Leadership Blog

In the News

VIDEO: Legislative Republican Leadership Media Availability: Leaders Oppose Taxes, Push for Public Safety

Published on February 11, 2025
Washington Republican leaders criticize Democratic policies on crime, taxes, and education, pushing for parental rights, lower costs, and safer communities. They oppose tax hikes, minimum wage increases, and school bond changes while advocating for balanced budgets and accountability.
Read More

AUDIO/VIDEO: Tell Olympia what you think about balancing emergency powers

Published on February 11, 2025
Help balance state emergency powers by sharing your thoughts at a crucial Valentine’s Day hearing. Tracy Ellis explains.   AUDIO VIDEO  
Read More

VIDEO: FOX News: America Reports: Sen. John Braun on Parental Rights

Published on February 10, 2025
Washington State Senate Republican Leader John Braun talks with FOX News’ John Roberts about parental rights.
Read More

VIDEO: Protecting Parents’ Rights, Kids’ Safety & Fiscal Responsibility with Sen. John Braun

Published on February 07, 2025
Senate Republican Leader John Braun, 20th LD, shares his weekly legislative update. This week in Olympia, Senate Democrats pass SB 5181 — a bill that undermines the Parents’ Rights Act. Braun’s bill that adds fentanyl to the list of drugs in the child endangerment law passes in the Senate. Recent test scores show our kids...
Read More

AUDIO: Senate Republican Leadership Update with Sen. John Braun

Published on February 06, 2025
Sen. Braun talks about a bill that cleared the State Senate that removes key parental notification rights codified in last year’s Parents’ Rights Initiative.
Read More

News from the Caucus

January 23, 2025
Jeff Holy

Senate panel passes Holy bill to help hire more law-enforcement officers

A bipartisan bill prime-sponsored by Sen. Jeff Holy to increase public safety by boosting the number of law-enforcement officers in Washington communities was approved by the Senate Law and Justice Committee today. Senate Bill 5060 would have the state Criminal Justice Training Commission develop and implement a grant program to help local and tribal governments...
Read More
April 26, 2024
John Braun

Infant fentanyl overdoses warrant felony charges, says Braun

CENTRALIA…Three infants in the Everett area overdosed on fentanyl over four days this week, including a 13-month-old who died. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following reaction to these preventable tragedies. “It’s completely indefensible when an infant or child gets sick or dies because someone in the household is using deadly drugs such...
Read More
April 15, 2024
John Braun

Right to protest does not include blocking airport access, says Braun

CENTRALIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, released the following statement following the anti-Israel protest that blocked access to SeaTac Airport for several hours today. “People have the right to peaceably protest, but they don’t have the right to put themselves and drivers at risk by blocking access to our busiest airport. I understand that...
Read More
April 03, 2024
Senate Republican Caucus

Braun: Retiring Sen. Mike Padden Legislature’s strongest advocate of public safety

OLYMPIA…Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following sentiments after an announcement by Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, saying he will not seek reelection to the 4th District Senate seat he has held since 2011. Sen. Padden is currently the lead Republican on the Senate Law & Justice Committee. He was previously the chair...
Read More
November 04, 2023
John Braun

Braun: Drug contraband, obstruction of justice at Green Hill School warrants thorough investigation

CENTRALIA…Upon learning that 114 bags of contraband were discovered at Green Hill School, and that it was necessary for law enforcement to issue a search warrant because school officials refused to turn the items over, Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, shared the following comments. “I strongly support the call for an investigation of Green...
Read More
October 24, 2023
John Braun

Broken Inslee promise stalls behavioral-health treatment facility

CENTRALIA… Efforts to build a behavioral-health treatment facility in Lewis County are being pushed back another six months by what Lewis County lawmakers say is another broken promise from Gov. Jay Inslee’s administration. Sen. John Braun and Rep. Peter Abbarno, both R-Centralia, are particularly frustrated because the governor’s office assured them an important cost-saving change...
Read More
May 16, 2023
Senate Republican Caucus

Legislature passes ‘workable’ drug-possession compromise

OLYMPIA…The Washington State Legislature passed a compromise bill on the possession of hard drugs such as fentanyl today during a one-day special session. Senate Republican Leader John Braun and House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary provided the following comments in response: “This bill isn’t perfect, but it is a strong step in the right direction and...
Read More
May 02, 2023
Senate Republican Caucus

STATEMENT: Republican leader cautious about drug-law ‘special’ session

CENTRALIA… State lawmakers have been called into a special session to continue work toward a new state law on the possession of controlled substances, after failing to come to an agreement before the regular legislative session ended April 23. Senate Republican Leader John Braun offered this comment following Gov. Jay Inslee’s proclamation that the Legislature...
Read More
March 08, 2023
John Braun

STATEMENT: Police-pursuit bill narrowly passed by Senate today is ‘half step’ in the right direction, says Republican leader

OLYMPIA… Senate Republican Leader John Braun today offered this statement following the Senate’s narrow passage of legislation that would let law-enforcement officers engage in vehicular pursuits in more situations than Washington law has allowed since 2021. Senate Bill 5352 was passed with a 26-23 vote on the final day of this session for the Senate...
Read More
January 20, 2015
Judy Warnick

Washington Lawmaker Seeks To Ban E-Cigarette Sales To Minors

By Ruby de Luna This week a state senate committee will hear a proposal that would make it illegal to sell e-cigarettes and vapes to minors. Last fall Sen. Judy Warnick got a tip from a police officer from her district in Moses Lake. He noted that students were buying e-cigarettes easily. “They were modifying...
Read More
1